Guess it's okay...if you really like Dean Martin

This hardly pretends to be a Christmas album, but is basically a love song album with a winter theme. I don't know how Rudolph got into the set of basically love songs though. "White Christmas" sort of stretches the theme, but Rudolph stretches it to the breaking point.

Dean Martin qualifies, of course, as one of the relaxed and smooth singers. His relaxed style in fact is rather extreme to the point of (personal opinion) being boring and bland. I almost wonder if he's going to stay awake long enough to finish the song.

I shouldn't be mean to his memory, though I admit that I completely dismissed him from my list of likeable singers and/or actors when he assumed the role of one of my favorite spy heroes, Matt Helm.

I will give him three stars only because I know there are those who will enjoy this album.

Winter Romance Import Style

This is an import entitled "Winter Romance". However, it is not the original configuration of the release by Dean in 1959 bearing the same title. It does include all the original songs from the 1959 release and for you collectors out there, it is not the original "ski chalet" album cover either. This import includes additional songs that were not included on the original album such as the hit "On An Evening in Roma". as well as "How Do You Speak to an Angel" and "Solitaire" amongst others. But it is the inclusion of these songs that seem to diminish the original concept of this "seasonal" recording. These songs just don't seem to mesh with the songs from the original "Winter Romance" recording, thereby detracting from the continuity of the original album. It is for this reason the mediocre rating. However, the original "Winter Romance" recording in its orignal format is a five star recording and worth searching out.